Cloud Credential Revocation Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud provider networks face challenges in managing security credentials, particularly with temporary security credentials, as they are susceptible to exposure and misuse, leading to difficulties in revocation without disrupting user applications, and long-term credentials are vulnerable to mishandling.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a software development kit (SDK) and automated processes that enable software applications to detect revoked security credentials and obtain new ones with minimal interruption, using temporary security credentials with limited lifespans and customizable credential vouching functions to manage potential security risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temporary security credentials are used, then security risks are reduced through limited lifespans, but application continuity is disrupted when credentials are revoked
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting credential revocation status before applications attempt to use them, and proactively obtaining replacement credentials. This advance detection and preparation prevents application disruptions when credentials are revoked, resolving the contradiction between security revocation and application continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the credential management service continuously monitors the status of security credentials, detects when they are revoked, and triggers automatic replacement processes. This closed-loop feedback ensures that applications always have valid credentials without manual intervention, maintaining both security and continuity.
2Productivity
If automated credential replacement is implemented, then application disruption is minimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a credential management service as an intermediary component that handles the complexity of credential detection, validation, and replacement. This mediator absorbs the system complexity, shielding applications from direct interaction with complex credential management logic while ensuring seamless credential transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service capabilities where the credential management service automatically performs credential replacement without requiring application code changes or manual intervention. The service autonomously detects revocation, obtains new credentials, and updates applications, reducing operational complexity despite the automated processes.
3Reliability
If security credentials are revoked upon compromise detection, then security is improved, but application operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary credential validation and automatic replacement before applications experience interruption. By detecting revocation status in advance and pre-obtaining replacement credentials, the system minimizes the time applications are interrupted while maintaining security through immediate revocation of compromised credentials.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for enabling software applications to obtain temporary security credentials used to interact with a cloud provider network and, upon the revocation of an active set of temporary security credentials used by an application (e.g., due to concerns about the temporary credential's potential exposure to one or more unauthorized third parties), to readily obtain new temporary security credentials that the application can use to continue operation with minimal interruption. The temporary security credentials can be used, for example, to enable the cloud provider network to authenticate requests sent by software applications or users to various services or other components of the cloud provider network. An operator of a cloud provider network may provide a software development kit (SDK) that application developers can use to incorporate functionality related to the management of temporary security credentials.